Latest Hip/Hop Posts

With the recent announcement that he’d be dropping a solo album sometime later this year, Big Boi has decided to tease fans through a remix series that re-envisions many of the tracks from his acclaimed 2012 effort, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. This week’s entry comes by way of Dungeoneze who mashes up “CPU,” featuring Phantogram, with Sade‘s “Nothing Can Come Between Us.” Titled “CPU 2.0,” this rework slows things down a bit, injecting the lovesick original with a smooth, laidback 90′s vibe. As excited as we are for this remake series, we’re still holding our breath for some new OutKast material before they embark on their 40 date tour throughout the U.S. later this spring. Check out the track above, as well as the previous remix in this series, a remix of “Thom Pettie” mashed up with “Thom Yarbrough.”

Let’s face it: the Grammy’s blow. They’re a total misrepresentation of the actual trends happening in music, and are usually at least two to three steps behind the curve. The Recording Academy is out of touch with the culture, and while the awards still have some meaning to them, the show lacks the same significance it had in previous generations. With that mini rant out of the way, I would like to congratulate all of last night’s winners, and don’t want to take anything away from the artists themselves or any of their accomplishments. What we are here to do today is highlight one of the positive aspects of the show: the performances. From 33 couples getting married during Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ rendition of “Same Love,” Kendrick Lamar‘s frenetic display during an insane mashup of “M.A.A.D. City” and “Radioactive” with Imagine Dragons, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr re-uniting as one half of The Beatles, and finally to Jay-Z and Beyoncé giving us a glimpse into their chemistry together on stage, this year’s awards had plenty to offer in terms of entertainment value. Check out some of the best ones below, and let us know your thoughts on which one was your favorite.

Just when you thought it was safe to get this one out of your head, Imagine Dragons had to pull this stunt off. After a stellar performance together at tonight’s 56th Annual Grammy awards (which you can view below), the Las Vegas natives decided to surprise fans of hip-hop and rock alike with this smashing remix featuring the self-proclaimed king of hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar (a proclamation the Academy doesn’t seem to agree with). Regardless of tonight’s results, Kendrick put together a fiery spectacle that was easily the highlight of tonight’s show, and he brings that same intensity and passion to his guest verse on one of the most amplified, uplifting singles in recent memory. Stream the amazing collaboration above, and make sure to grab your copy from iTunes now.

Despite his stoner reputation, Curren$y is easily one of the hardest working hip-hop artists in the game. The dude never takes a year off, let alone a day, yet his sound doesn’t ever manage to get stale. The New Orleans Spitta is readying yet another mixtape release for 2014, gearing up to drop The Drive In Theatre sometime later this year. For the first offering from his new project, Curren$y brings his usual confident, laidback swagger to pair with Action Bronson‘s eccentricity over an appropriately cinematic instrumental. Check out the dope new track above, and look out for more from Curren$y during the coming weeks.

While we still have yet to see a release date for These Things Happen, we now have an idea of what level of quality to expect from the upcoming project. It’s clear that G-Eazy is as focused as he’s ever been, as all three of these B-sides sound like they could have easily made it onto his previous efforts. From the tranquil and hazy “Sleepless” alongside Chicagoan songstress NYLO, to the reflective Christoph Andersson-produced “Tumblr Girls,” and finally the laidback, poolside vibes of “Last Night” featuring up and comer KYLE and familiar collaborator Devon, the singles all may vary in style, but they provide a cohesive, polished view of the sonic direction Gerald seems to be headed in with this new album. Download the free tracks below, and don’t forget to grab your tickets for his upcoming tour, which will be hitting the road late next month.

In memoriam of one of rap’s greats, A Tribe Called Quest‘s Phife Dawg pays homage on his new single “Dear Dilla”. J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancy, was one of the most influential emcee/producers in the game, whose work on the board and mic led to some of the greatest tracks in hip-hop history. His life was cut too short in 2006 due to complications from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Paying tribute to his friend on this new single, Phife remembers the good times they spent together over a DJ Rasta Root throwback beat. Coming across as more of a story during the rapper’s wake, Phife even recalls the time they both spent in the hospital together. Take a listen to the first single from Phife’s upcoming MUTTYmorPHosis project.

New York emcee Bishop Nehru and U.K.-based EDM duo Disclosure make for an unlikely combination. However, with the range that both have demonstrated, it should come as no surprise that their collaboration, released a few hours ago, turned out incredibly well. On “You Stressin,” Disclosure creates a glitchy, and lo-fi funky, instrumental that fits Nehru’s nonchalance to a key. Check this ill cut above.